Auto vs. Manual Transmission......

I drove a 2017 international and it was the worst POS I have ever been in. Terrible auto. Now I'm in a Volvo with I shift. The difference is night and day. This thing is very smooth. The only thing i can see a manual doing better is the ability to rock if you are stuck, which hopefully is rare. And you know, these trannies never grind. No telling how far they can go.

 

Realistically, i think the best combo i've worked with has been the Detroit 60 and Super 10 (Eaton?).

We mostly have DD13/DT12 combo; i see no advantage of this over the detroit 60/super 10 combo.

As an OTR or linehaul driver, you're not shifting that much anyways, so the "convenience" factor is moot. OK, MAYBE for city work there might be an advantage, but i don't think so, as the backup and low speed functions of these "automated" transmission STILL don't work well----even after 13 years of development...............i STILL BANG into kingpins and docks; This CAN'T be good.

MPG? i don't see any noticeable increase all other factors being the same.

 

I enjoyed your post and in particular, you wrote...The only thing i can see a manual doing better is the ability to rock if you are stuck, which hopefully is rare.

I agree with you as far as rocking when you're stuck.

With an AT, don't bother rockin' or your head will be knockin' against the steering wheel in total frustration!

 

Cost vs. Risk analysis. Which makes the carrier more money? It must be the auto. Why else would they do it? You can argue with supertruckers and technophiles all day, but if you drive for a corporation you’ll eventually be in the vehicle that makes them the most money.

I heard from a director of safety that the overall savings on autos is in the millions of dollars when amortized over a fleet.

 

I don’t get this. Our entire fleet is air assist slide lock and in the year I’ve been in an auto, I’ve never had any issues with sliding. We’re always heavy. Again I think it comes down to what generation auto you’re talking about. It’s totally unfair to dismiss all and current autos because of experience with past autos. It’s night and day based on what I’ve heard in the past to what I’m experiencing today.

 

Oh, I don't know about all that stuff regarding who's a real driver and who isn't but, anyone who doesn't recognize the fact that technology is going to change the industry completely (for better or worse) is not paying attention. For example; who among us would want to go back to pre "self adjust brakes" and anti lock. We can go on and on with the things that have improved safety and performance and made the highway safer and improved the quality of life for drivers.

I recognize the prefference for transmissions as a very subjective and personal thing for -- very personal reasons. The manual transmission is slowly going the way of the buggy whip, as well, the truck as we know it today, may or may not be recognizable 30 yrs from now.

Slowly but surely we will retire or, 'get with the program'. Automatic transmissions are the future, and they will be the least of a drivers concerns.

 

Shifting is a dying art. Anyone can put their foot on a brake pedal, push "D" and go. There goes 50% of the skill needed to do the job right there.

 

I just moved mine. Had to give them a shot of WD-40. Manual ones are harder. Have to get it moving and use the brake handle.